MILLENNIALS HAVE BEEN DUBBED many things, among them, the Wanderlust Generation. However people may define this subset, it’s clear the impact this generation made on the travel industry: Social media has become another form of travel inspiration and a sales tool. It’s also where this generation gravitates to share its own travel experiences. Mobile booking is way up, thanks to millennials. According to a study conducted by Eventbrite, this age demographic craves experiences, including dedicating more income to these events, occasions and trips. Also included in the same study: Millennials command around $1.3 trillion in spending money. It’s a lucrative travel market, and the industry clearly listened.
Which travel companies and brands make a splash with millennials? Whose efforts reaped great rewards? That’s the question we posed to the readers of trazeetravel.com, the sister web publication to Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com and whereverfamily.com. Trazee Travel is a one-stop resource for travelers aged 25–40, with news, tips, reviews and more, updated several times daily.
We asked; our readers answered. We now present to you the findings as we announce the fifth annual The Trazees, awards presented for and by millennials. Reader nominations were collected December 2018–March 2019.
Here’s a closer look at those savvy, sophisticated and social media-friendly companies deemed tops by engaged, excited and enthusiastic millennial travelers around the globe. Congratulations!
We begin where most trips also start: with the winning airlines and airports around the globe. For the second consecutive year, American Airlines takes top honors as Favorite International Airline. The airline also scoops up another second-time honor for Favorite Airline Website. Its alliance, oneworld, officially becomes three-time Favorite Airline Alliance winner.
When it comes to aircraft, Trazee readers selected the Airbus A350 as Favorite Aircraft Type. Some of our other winning airlines also agree, as they fly the friendly skies with the aircraft: China Southern Airlines, Favorite Airline in Asia, has A350s on order; Delta Air Lines, Favorite Airline App, has some in operation, as does LATAM Airlines Group, Favorite Airline in Central/South America; and Etihad Airways, Favorite Airline in the Middle East, awaits completion of its order, alongside United Airlines, Favorite Green Airline.
For accruing frequent-flyer bonuses and perks, millennial travelers prefer United again, as its MileagePlus program takes its second consecutive win as Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program. Another consecutive award winner celebrates a different milestone this year: South African Airways receives Quint Status for its five-time Favorite Airline in Africa nod. Quint Status is awarded to those winners receiving the same award title for five years in a row.
Rounding out the airline winners are four other favorites: Air Canada, Favorite Airline in North America; JetBlue, Favorite Low-Cost Airline; TAP Air Portugal, two-time Favorite Airline in Europe; and Interjet, winning Favorite Airline in Mexico for the first time.
Now let’s take a closer look at the airports making a difference in the lives of millennial travelers, starting with Favorite Overall Airport in the World, Doha’s Hamad International Airport. DOH also receives Favorite Airport in the Middle East, second consecutive year; Favorite Duty-Free Shopping; and Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in the Middle East. Phew, that’s quite a feat!
Coming home to North America, we have another Quint Status inductee: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport garners Favorite Airport in North America for the fifth year in a row while also earning Favorite Airport Dining for the third consecutive year.
© SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT
Our other winning airports take us on a jaunt around the globe. Singapore Changi Airport is Favorite Airport in Asia. Also in Asia, Incheon Airport wins Favorite Airport Shopping, and Kansai International Airport is the Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in Asia winner. Helsinki Airport reigns supreme as Favorite Airport in Europe, while Brussels Airport boasts the Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in Europe title. Moving to Africa, Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca is Favorite Airport in Africa, and Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in Africa goes to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Mauritius International Airport. We complete our worldwide journey in Central/South America, where Bogotá El Dorado International Airport and Montevideo Carrasco International Airport are tops as Favorite Airport in Central/South America and Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in Central/South America, respectively.
You’ve arrived in style; now, where to rest your head, what destination to explore and which services to use? The readers of trazeetravel.com know the best of the best, and the rest of our 2019 winners’ list should be your guide.
InterContinental Hotels Group appears on this year’s list three times — InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Favorite Hotel Chain; intercontinental.com, Favorite Hotel Website; and IHG Rewards Club, Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World. Aloft Hotels is twice as nice, winning Favorite Hotel Chain in Asia and Favorite Green Hotel.
© MIKE SCHWARTZ
COURTESY OF 21C MUSEUM HOTELS
Two individual hotels earn honors: San Francisco’s Hotel Zephyr is Favorite Individual Hotel, and 21C Museum Hotel Oklahoma City is Favorite Individual Lifestyle Hotel. Once again we circumnavigate the globe to visit the rest of our hotel winners: Moxy is Favorite Hotel Chain in Europe; Sol by Meliá is Favorite Hotel Chain in Central/ South America; and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts is Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East. This year’s Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico nod earns Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts Quint Status.
© TOURISM IRELAND
Several destinations claim their second consecutive wins this year, including Ireland, Favorite Country; Aruba, Favorite Honeymoon Destination; Taiwan, Favorite Adventure Destination; and Asheville, North Carolina, Favorite Foodie City. Two newbies to the list earn accolades: Barcelona, Spain, as Favorite Worldwide City, and Tampa Bay, Florida, as Friendliest City.
© HERTZ
We round out the rankings with Hertz, Favorite Car Rental Company; GOWAY, Favorite Tour Operator; Tumi, Favorite Luggage Brand; United Explorer Card from Chase, Favorite Credit Card; and U River Cruises, Favorite Cruise Line.
Congratulations to the 2019 winners of The Trazees; you’ve clearly made your mark on the wanderlust generation. Something tells us we’ll be hearing much more from and about you as the explorers continue to experience all the world of travel has to offer.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
For the first year, in addition to our reader-voted The Trazees, trazeetravel.com acknowledges those travel companies going above and beyond. Our Special Achievement Awards recognize leaders making a difference in the industry. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!
Options are important to travelers, especially busy, on-the-go millennial ones. Additionally, cost and ease are factors to be considered. Ontario International Airport, located in Southern California, understands these objectives, and its growing services and other airport facilities and amenities make it a serious alternative to flying in and out of busy Los Angeles International Airport. For this reason, ONT earned the title of Favorite Alternative Airport this year. In April 2019 passenger volume at the airport grew by 7 percent, a clear indicator travelers are taking notice.
In the same vein, speed and convenience, particularly among this go-now, do-now group of travelers, rank high in importance. What innovations will improve and expedite the travel process? In 2019 we think CLEAR made a huge impact and consequently named it Favorite Travel Experience Improvement. Instead of using the traditional method of identification documents to move through airports, CLEAR uses the soon-tobe- ubiquitous method of biometrics, like using eyes and fingertips, to confirm travelers’ identities. Partners include Delta Air Lines, Major League Baseball and Hertz.
© HURTIGRUTEN CRUISES
Following a year where single-use plastics and other environmental concerns were front and center in the public consciousness, we look to highlight a travel provider doing its part to aid the environment. Hurtigruten Cruises is the 2019 honoree for Favorite Environmentally Conscious Cruise Line. Sustainability is part of everything the cruise line does, from working closely with local communities and introducing the world’s first hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships to eliminating single-use plastics and establishing the Hurtigruten Foundation to conserve the polar bear population, among other efforts.
FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Emirates
5. Asiana Airlines
FAVORITE AIRLINE ALLIANCE
1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TYPE
1. Airbus A350
2. Boeing 787
3. Boeing 777
4. Airbus A380
5. Airbus A330
FAVORITE AIRLINE WEBSITE
1. aa.com
2. united.com
3. delta.com
4. jetblue.com
5. southwest.com
FAVORITE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM
1. United MileagePlus
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Delta SkyMiles
4. Alaska Mileage Plan
5. JetBlue TrueBlue
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA
1. Air Canada
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. American Airlines
5. Alaska Airlines
FAVORITE LOW-COST AIRLINE
1. JetBlue
2. Norwegian Air
3. Southwest Airlines
4. Spirit Airlines
5. Frontier
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA
1. LATAM Airlines Group
2. Avianca
3. Aerolineas Argentinas
4. Aeromexico
5. Copa Airlines
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. Brussels Airlines
3. Turkish Airlines
4. Austrian Airlines
5. British Airways
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA
1. South African Airways
2. Kenya Airways
3. Air Namibia
4. Air Seychelles
5. Ethiopian Airlines
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Etihad Airways
2. Qatar Airways
3. Emirates
4. EL AL Israel Airlines
5. Royal Jordanian
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN ASIA
1. China Southern Airlines
2. Asiana Airlines
3. China Airlines
4. Korean Air
5. Hong Kong Airlines
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN MEXICO
1. Interjet
2. Aeromexico
3. Volaris
4. VivaAerobus
FAVORITE GREEN AIRLINE
1. United Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. TAP Air Portugal
4. American Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines
FAVORITE AIRLINE APP
1. Delta Air Lines
2. Alaska Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines
FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Munich Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport
4. Incheon Airport
5. San Francisco International Airport
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
3. Pittsburgh International Airport
4. San Francisco International Airport
5. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN ASIA
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Kansai International Airport
3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
4. Incheon Airport
5. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN EUROPE
1. Helsinki Airport
2. Munich Airport
3. Vienna International Airport
4. Zürich Airport
5. Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, Rome
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport
4. Bahrain International Airport
5. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Medina
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN AFRICA
1. Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca
2. King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa
3. Cape Town International Airport
4. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria
5. Port Elizabeth International Airport
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA
1. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport
2. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport
3. Medellín José María Cordova International Airport
4. Quito International Airport
5. Jorge Chávez International Airport, Peru
FAVORITE AIRPORT DINING
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Hamad International Airport, Doha
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
5. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
FAVORITE AIRPORT SHOPPING
1. Incheon Airport
2. Denver International Airport
3. Dubai International Airport
4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
5. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai Duty Free
3. Incheon Airport
4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
5. Hong Kong International Airport
FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai Duty Free
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport
4. Bahrain Duty Free
5. Amman Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan
FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN AFRICA
1. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Mauritius International Airport
2. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
3. King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa
4. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria
5. Port Elizabeth International Airport
FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN ASIA
1. Kansai International Airport
2. Incheon Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport
4. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
5. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN EUROPE
1. Brussels Airport
2. London Heathrow Airport
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
4. Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, Rome
5. Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris
FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA
1. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport
2. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport
3. Medellín José María Cordova International Airport
4. Quito International Airport
5. Jorge Chávez International Airport, Peru
FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL
1. Hotel Zephyr, San Francisco
2. Ace Hotel Downtown Las Angeles
3. Moxy New Orleans
4. COQ, Paris
5. Freehand Miami, Miami Beach
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN
1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
2. Aloft Hotels
3. Canopy by Hilton
4. Hyatt Place
5. EVEN Hotels
FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL LIFESTYLE HOTEL
1. 21C Museum Hotel, Oklahoma City
2. ME Miami
3. INNSIDE New York NoMad
4. COQ Hotel, Paris
5. Hotel Zeta, San Francisco
FAVORITE HOTEL WEBSITE
1. intercontinental.com
2. andaz.com
3. marriott.com
4. westin.com
5. hilton.com
FAVORITE HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD
1. IHG Rewards Club
2. Marriott Bonvoy
3. Hilton Honors
4. Sol Meliá MAS Rewards
5. Radisson Rewards
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN ASIA
1. Aloft Hotels
2. Moxy
3. W Hotels
4. Hyatt Centric
5. The Ritz-Carlton
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN EUROPE
1. Moxy
2. Hotel Indigo
3. The Ritz-Carlton
4. Canopy by Hilton
5. Westin Hotels & Resorts
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA
1. Sol Meliá
2. Westin Hotels & Resorts
3. Sheraton Latin America
4. Riu Hotels & Resorts
5. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO
1. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
4. Westin Hotels & Resorts
5. W Hotels
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
2. Aloft Hotels
3. Marriott International
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. Address Hotels + Resorts
FAVORITE GREEN HOTEL
1. Aloft Hotels
2. Sofitel Hotels & Resorts
3. Hilton Hotels
4. Marriott International
5. Element Hotels
FAVORITE COUNTRY
1. Ireland
2. Greece
3. Spain
4. South Africa
5. United Kingdom
FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY
1. Barcelona, Spain
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. Singapore
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Hong Kong
FAVORITE HONEYMOON DESTINATION
1. Aruba
2. Greece
3. Cook Islands
4. Turks & Caicos
5. St. Lucia
FAVORITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION
1. Taiwan
2. India
3. Thailand
4. New Zealand
5. Austria
FAVORITE FOODIE CITY
1. Asheville, North Carolina
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. Rome
4. Paris
5. New York City, New York
FRIENDLIEST CITY
1. Tampa Bay, Florida
2. Nashville, Tennessee
3. Chicago, Illinois
4. Atlanta, Georgia
5. Denver, Colorado
FAVORITE CAR RENTAL COMPANY
1. Hertz
2. Sixt
3. National Car Rental
4. Avis
5. Enterprise
FAVORITE TOUR OPERATOR
1. GOWAY
2. Abercrombie & Kent
3. Top Deck
4. Contiki
5. Red Savannah
FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND
1. Tumi
2. Swiss Army
3. Samsonite
4. Delsey
5. TravelPro
FAVORITE CREDIT CARD
1. United Explorer Card by Chase
2. American Express Green
3. American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles
4. Venture Card from Capital One
5. Chase Ink
FAVORITE CRUISE LINE
1. U River Cruises
2. Royal Caribbean International
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
4. Princess Cruises
5. Carnival Cruises
QUINT STATUS 2019
FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA
South African Airways
FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO
Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
FAVORITE ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT
Ontario International Airport
FAVORITE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENT
CLEAR
FAVORITE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CRUISE LINE
Hurtigruten Cruises
#TrazeeTravel
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